In short. ChatGPT deep research offers restricted and prioritized site-selection modes under Sites > Manage sites.
Definition: ChatGPT deep research has a site-selection control under Sites > Manage sites. OpenAI documents a restricted mode that uses only the entered websites or domains and a prioritization mode that emphasizes them while keeping full-web search available.
Key facts
- Deep research can search the public web, use uploaded files, and use enabled ChatGPT apps. OpenAI's Help Center documentation lists these as available source types.
- The site control is opened from Sites > Manage sites in the ChatGPT prompt window.
- A research task can be restricted to only the entered websites or domains, or can prioritize those sites while allowing full-web search.
- Websites can be entered as a comma-separated list.
- The research plan can be reviewed before the task starts, and source access can be adjusted while the task runs.
- OpenAI's deep research announcement records a 10 February 2026 update that added restriction of web searches to trusted sites alongside connections to apps and MCP.
How does the chosen-site control work?
The setting is a source-selection control for a deep research task. Open Sites > Manage sites in the ChatGPT prompt window and enter websites or domains. The Help Center describes two choices: restrict research to the entered sites only, or select Prioritize these sites while allowing full-web search to emphasize them. Several sites can be entered as a comma-separated list.
The control sits alongside other source choices. OpenAI says that deep research can access the public web and uploaded files by default. Connected apps are separate sources whose availability depends on the account, workspace settings, role access, provider permissions, and whether the app supports deep research.
What can a researcher change before and during a task?
ChatGPT creates a proposed research plan before research begins. The Help Center says that the plan can be reviewed and modified. During the run, progress can be followed, the task can be interrupted, and the sources it can access can be adjusted. The same documentation says that the resulting report includes citations or source links for verification.
OpenAI's announcement describes the February 10, 2026 update as adding the ability to restrict web searches to trusted sites and to interrupt research to refine it with follow-up prompts or new sources. The announcement describes deep research as a multi-step research capability on the internet, while the current Help Center explains the site control in the prompt window.
What does this change for a website?
The documented control is applied by the person starting the research task. A domain can be entered as the only allowed web source or as a site to emphasize while broader search remains available. OpenAI's documentation does not specify a separate website-side configuration for this setting.
The control concerns which sources a task can access. OpenAI's documentation leaves the effect of this setting on page selection or ranking unspecified. The documented workflow provides citations or source links so that the report can be checked.
Related terms
FAQ
Can you limit deep research to only selected domains?
Yes. Select the restriction option in Sites > Manage sites and enter the websites or domains that the task may use.
Can you emphasize sites while keeping wider search available?
Yes. Select Prioritize these sites. OpenAI documents this mode as emphasizing the entered sources while allowing full-web search.
How can you add several websites?
Enter them as a comma-separated list in the site-selection control.
Sources
- OpenAI Help Center, "Deep research in ChatGPT", updated 27 days ago
- OpenAI, "Introducing deep research", 2 February 2025
Check how a page reads to answer engines. Open the GEO score analyzer